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Topic: Torpedo tube question |
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ducati650
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 11, 2007 - 7:29am
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I don't know if this was asked before. I didn't see it in a search so here goes....
When would the tube be cranked out into firing position on an 80' Elco? Was it done at the beginning of a combat sortie? Was it done when a ship contact was made or expected? Were they out any time in an area where anti-ship combat could be expected? How about when barge busting was the only combat expected?
Sorry for all the questions but the vast majority of photos show them inboard and I don't think I've ever seen a model built with them cranked out. If they were cranked out and a model had crew, would they all need to be depicted at full battle stations and actively engaging a target?
I'm trying to get a feel for whether or not the position of the tubes can tell you anything specific about senario.
Thanks,
Ed
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 12, 2007 - 6:02am
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These Tubes were trained in the outward position shortly after leaving their Bases or after arriving on Station. It would certainly be a very terrible thing should a juicy target appear out of the darkness and then not have your torpedo tubes ready to fire. Although it only took a few moments to crank them into the ready position, those would be precious moments if geting ready to attack a Capital Ship.
As you already know, the torpedoes could be fired by the Skipper in the Cock-pit by pressing the fire button on the Control Panel, but a Torpedomen could fire the Torpedo as well by smashing a wooden Hammer on the charger. I think most of us who have models choose not to have the tubes in the ready position because it changes the way the boat looks, and to be honest, the boat looks its best when at high speed with the tubes trained in. Now, maybe some of the early boats waited longer to train their tubes outward, and I really would be surprised if any Skipper would wait until a Target showed up to get his Torpdoes ready.........
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ducati650
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 12, 2007 - 6:46am
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Thanks Frank. That helps.
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Drew Cook
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 12, 2007 - 6:57pm
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Ed,
To add to what Frank said, from everything I've seen and read, the tubes would be trained out and secured into their firing positions before the boats left their base on patrol. There exists a well-known piece of WWII film footage, as well as still photos, of a torpedo man aboard PT 149 in the Solomons loading the black powder charges on the starboard tubes, and then cranking them outboard before a patrol (or at least, for the camera).
Since there were two torpedo training gear crank handles aboard an 80' Elco (stored on top of the dayroom canopy), two of the crew might have taken one side of the boat each, and cranked and locked the two tubes on their side. I'm just guessing, but this would seem to have been a logical scenario.
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ducati650
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 14, 2007 - 4:59am
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Thanks Drew. Makes sense.
Ed
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 15, 2014 - 6:39am
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There are also that group of photos showing Ron 12 boats refueling at sea from a tender and the tubes were cranked out in that instance.
Will |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 15, 2014 - 8:01am
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Will;
I know you meant RON 5,
take care,
TED
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 16, 2014 - 12:22pm
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You are right, Ted. The Ron 12 boats had racks by the time my shots were taken.
Will |
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